Agreed, Seems to be the American way (I should say north American way cause
It's expanding to Canada more and more now) to need somebody to blame for
everything..

I'm still not done laughing about the people suiing the fast food companies
for making them overweight..

I don't like the pharmaceutical industries.. they have too much power for
anybody's good.. and if they didn't encourage over-medication so much, it
would be less of an issue.. BUT anyone alive is responsible of their own
choices..

Guess I'm old fashionned or something.,.

My Mom had the best argument when I asked why fruit juice can't do as water
intake...

"Would you wash your bath with fruit juice ?"

You need water to "oil the machine".. to make it work right.. 3 cups a day
(the other 3 cups can be something else) it's not that much of a sacrifice
really.. My health is worth this minute effort I would say !

Having an interest in Multiple Schlerosis (as opposed to Mitral
Stenosis, which is also called MS), and therefore fairly up on the
latest research, I am very irritated to read this totally
unsubstantiated link between MS and MSG *again*. How often is it
necessary to debunk such myths before people get the point?

Latest theories about the origins of MS centre around it's genetic,
autoimmune and possibly retro-viral origins. MS is found in cultures
were MSG is not eaten, as well as in the West FYI. MS-like diseases are
found in most of the animal kingdom: most of the animal kingdom do not
eat MSG, of course.

Monosodium glutamate is a naturally occurring amino acid salt which
appears to enhance flavour and *may* also stimulate appetite, which
wouldn't be great for anyone trying to lose weight. Then again, most of
us put on weight due to causes nothing whatsoever to do with appetite,
and everything to do with food choices, activity levels, habits etc.

MonoSODIUM glutamate is also a source of sodium ie. Salt, which we're
all told to cut back on these days, for our blood pressure's sake and to
avoid hardening of the arteries.

It's probably not a great food to over-indulge in (as anyone who's
stuffed an entire packet of Pringles can probably testify), but then
neither is salt, sugar or saturated fat and we don't all get hysterical
about that.

No, it's as much pro-aspartame as the others are anti-aspartame. The
difference is that the anti-aspartame sites are presented by doctors and
other health professionals publicizing their experiences etc - just
because the FDA hasn't acted doesn't mean there isn't a problem. Like I
said, it's only a matter of time before it's banned.

And for every link that site has (most are official sites which are
going to be pro-aspartame), there are dozens more from truly "objective"
sources.

"The FDA had actually banned aspartame based on this finding, only to
have Searle Chairman Donald Rumsfeld (currently the Secretary of
Defense) vow to "call in his markers," to get it approved."
http://www.rense.com/general33/legal.htm

...and we all know about Rumsfeld's integrity.

"On the European Common Market, Aspartame is banned for all children's
products. Why is this not the case in Canada and the U.S.? Because
Monsanto - which owns the NutraSweet Company which manufactures
Aspartame - pays off the FDA, the American Medical Association, The
American Dietetic and Diabetic Associations, Congressmen and Senators
and virtually anyone who gets in the way, and in other countries too.
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation caught them red handed and aired a
program where Monsanto was trying to bribe Canadian Doctors at Health
Canada."
http://www.healingdaily.com/detoxification-diet/aspartame.htm

"Unfortunately, even today no one at the FDA seems to be allowed to look
at a possible causation of death by Aspartame, or look at the figures of
Aspartame disease, although there are certainly enough indications to
warrant immediate attention."
http://www.newmediaexplorer.org/sepp/2003/12/30/fda_bans_ephedra_deaths_may_be_a
spartame_related.htm

"Senior FDA scientists and consultants vigorously protested approving
the release of aspartame products. Their objections related to
disturbing findings in animal studies (especially the frequency of brain
tumors), seemingly flawed experimental data, and the absence of
extensive pre-marketing trials on humans using real-world products over
prolonged periods."

"A number of concerned doctors were unable to get their "anecdotal"
observations published in peer-reviewed journals, some (including the
author) having been labeled "media terrorists" disrespectful of
"evidence-based" criteria."
http://www.mercola.com/2004/jan/7/aspartame_disease.htm

The conspiracy here isn't against aspartame...it's against the
"objective" doctors trying to get their results publicized.

Again, until the FDA acts, there's nothing that can be done officially.
The MS society may officially say it doesn't have a relationship but in
private, doctors have been notified. I know of one patient that was told
to get off the diet pop after she was diagnosed. Within two days she was
walking normally and completely "cured" within weeks. These aren't
isolated cases but as I pointed out, getting it publicized is meeting
resistence. Kind of reminds me of the power of the NRA.

Your link details one 'possible' case. The FAA has received hundreds of
complaints but....

"Off the record they acknowledged the problem but claim their hands are
tied until the FDA addresses the issue."

"Adverse reaction reports on the pilot's hotline are treated as
confidential unless permission is given to release names and information
about case histories. Since the hotline began in 1988, we have received
well over 600 pilot related calls. This is a problem of astronomical
proportions with disastrous results if left unaddressed by the American
public and the FAA."

Apparently a pilot can lose his job if he 'officially' reports a
reaction to aspartame.

http://www.aspartamesafety.com/Article4.htm

Oh hell...I can certainly see the bullshit.

Sugar can be used in a calorie controlled diet. The point is that it has
to be used in moderation. The problem with most Americans is that they
consume it like water. Considering that Aspartame (and Splenda) can
increase appetite, you usually consume more calories in the end. That's
what doctors are finding.

You said you haven't seen "any" cases. I pointed out that there are
cases - some ongoing. It seems that they are fearing a major successful
suit - that's only a matter of time.

Just because the FDA has approved the chemical for consumption (against
it's own scientists' recommendations) doesn't make it safe.

Remember, they also approved thalidomide.

 ..

And I am sure that there will be more negative effects of olestra determined
some day. I can tolerate the stuff but I know of many that can't. I avoid
the stuff mainly because I have no willpower when it comes to salty things.
I can be satisfied with 94% FF popcorn so that's my choice of salty snack
these days. Thank g*d for the snack size portions.

Those are NASTY... we bought a huge bag for St-Jean last june.. yuckyuckyuck